Sierra Leone Pavilion 2026: Worlds of Today

The National Pavilion of the Republic of Sierra Leone at La Biennale di Venezia 2026 marks the country’s first historic participation in this international event, presenting the project “Worlds of Today”. About The exhibition invites an immersive and reflective experience, placing at its core the dialogue between the diverse cultures of West Africa, contemporary art, and the international art scene. Through this project, the Republic of Sierra Leone opens a space for listening and reflection, positioning its artistic practice in service of cooperation, memory, and social sustainability. The pavilion brings together not only artists from the Republic of Sierra Leone, but also creatives from ECOWAS member states (Economic Community of West African States) and international artists selected for their affinity with themes of care, resilience, and ethics in art. The aim is to create a fluid and ongoing dialogue between different cultural and artistic traditions, highlighting the richness of African languages and the capacity of art to generate meaning and social transformation. The exhibition space, hosted in the evocative cloister of the Liceo Artistico Statale Michelangelo Guggenheim, is conceived as an immersive and interactive environment where the boundaries between works and artists dissolve. The curatorial approach by Sandro Orlandi Stagl and Willy Montini emphasizes depth and quality of dialogue between the works, avoiding accumulation and promoting an intense and reflective viewing experience. Each work becomes part of a broader conversation, a complex fabric of stories, memories, and future visions. “Worlds of Today” proposes an expanded interpretation of national representation, extending it to a pan-African and transnational dimension. In a global context marked by nationalist tensions, the Republic of Sierra Leone Pavilion offers a space for collaboration and cultural integration, welcoming artists from Nigeria, Togo, Senegal, Benin, and other countries, alongside Italian and Mexican voices, in a harmonious and complex dialogue. The exhibition reflects a vision of Ethical Art, in which social responsibility, cultural innovation, and aesthetic research intertwine. The pavilion does not simply display artworks: it presents living creative processes, community practices, and artistic interventions that transform the exhibition into a true “Visual Constituent Assembly”, where individual experiences engage with a collective perspective, contributing to the creation of new forms of participation and perception in contemporary African art. Visiting the Republic of Sierra Leone Pavilion means immersing oneself in an experience where art, memory, and social innovation merge, offering a profound reading of West Africa as a cultural and artistic laboratory. “Worlds of Today” celebrates the power of art to regenerate, stimulate critical thinking, and promote a shared, inclusive, and sustainable future. Read more Toggle Installation